A work day.

This is a typical day up north for me....driving to look at sites for our client and meeting with townships. This was last week in Lancaster County, PA (obviously before all the snow this past weekend!). At first when I saw this, I just thought why don't they just drive, it has to be faster....but then I realize that even though this is slower, they are riding around and enjoying the scenery and doing things slower. What a concept!

Hershey Kiss Peanut Butter Blossom Recipe

I made these delish cookies this weekend. Kevin was mentioning last week how these were his favorite and the next day on the plane I was catching up on my Martha Stewarts and the recipe was in it. It was a sign that I had to make these for him and to have at the house for when guests stop by during the holidays!
Hershey Kiss Peanut Butter Blossom Recipe
48 Milk Chocolate Kisses
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 T. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
granulated sugar

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Remove wrappers from chocolates.
2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl. Add 1/3 cup granulated and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and sald; gradually beat into mixture.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

MIA

This Christmas rush has stolen my blog time!!! I'm so sorry!

We are busy running around trying to get those last minute packages out at the Post Office, going to Target to get gift cards for our concierges and cleaning up before we head out this week. Work has also been a little crazy as I was up in PA this week for a meeting.

I'll be back on Monday! Enjoy the snowy day in the northeast. No snow in Charlotte!

Christmas Decorating

I finally finished my Christmas decorating on Monday night! Here are some examples....my illegal wreath (we aren't allowed to have wreaths or doormats since I don't own the outside of my door in the condo building).
I LOVE this pineapple cone tree. This one is my Mom's and has been around awhile (it could be her Mom's, not sure). I think it is so cute and very Williamsburg-ish. You stick the pineapple on top and plug the apples into the cone. Then I put boxwood in between apples so you don't see the cone.
This is the magnolia that I mentioned I was getting from Kevin's parents home. I also put fake berries in it to spruce it up a bit. This is on top of my cabinets/bookshelves.

This is my one Christmas tree....not much room in 800 square feet for a real Christmas tree! Mom made this for me last year for the Holiday Home Tour. It was fun bringing it out again this year....she actually put it up for me when she was here for Thanksgiving. Isn't it adorable?! It sits on the countertop of my cabinets/bookshelves. And look at that precious girl next to it....my niece!!!

This is another fun little creation that Mom did for me last year for the Home Tour. All of the ornaments at the base of the tree are each year from year 2003 of the White House. Do any of you collect these? You check them out here.

Hope yall had fun decorating your homes! It definitely gets you in the spirit!!

Fran and Bev

I got to see two of my favorite friends last night - Fran and Bev. We had so much fun at Cantina for dinner! It is great that we always pick up where we left off and have great girl convo! I worked with them at my old company and we've stayed in touch since I left almost 3 years ago!

Sidewalk Sale

On Friday night, Kevin and I went to Basil (our favorite restaurant at the bottom of our building). It was fun to have a date night out! Then we went upstairs and hung out with our friends Wendy and Josh. It happened to be their 6 month anniversary and they had just received their wedding video. We got to check that out with them.... it was great! We got to relive being in Mexico - being tan and always having a drink in our hand!

Saturday we headed doing to south of Charlotte to see Kevin's parents and his brother and sister in law. We had fun looking at photo albums from when they were growing up and visiting with them. After dinner, we headed back to uptown and stopped in many neighborhoods checking out Christmas lights!

Sunday we went to Asheville to the J. Crew sidewalk sale! Kevin took my car while i was in there and went to Best Buy. You know you shopped too much when the next day your lower back hurts from going through so many bins of clothes! I came out with a wool cardigan, bathing suit, short sleeved collared shirt for work and a cotton dress all for $55. What a steal! Here is a picture of the madness -
After the sidewalk sale, Kevin came back and we went around the corner to the Clearance Store. We had to take a picture -Kevin walked out with a pair of khaki pants and I came out with NOTHING! What a record!!!

Avenue Holiday Party

Oh how times change! The below picture is from the Avenue Holiday party 2008. Kevin and I were just friends! Our friend Kim is with us. :)
This year was much better since we are "together together!"

Here is Wendy, me and Jennifer!

Margo, me, Meg!